Relation of hypesthesia to the outcome of glycerol rhizolysis for trigeminal neuralgia.
The effects of percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizolysis were observed in a population of 58 cases of classical trigeminal neuralgia. The follow-up period ranged from 7 to 52 months postoperatively. It was noted that 84% of the patients had immediate relief of pain. The overall recurrence rate was 29%. Based on Kaplan-Meier survival curves, the overall half-life (T1/2) of this procedure was 16 months. Although none of the patients developed anesthesia dolorosa or corneal ulceration, one group of patients developed either a clinical or subclinical persistent "minimal hypesthesia." In these there was a statistically significant difference in the T1/2 associated with this procedure (p = 0.01). This finding suggests that, contrary to the general belief, persistent hypesthesia after glycerol rhizolysis is a negative indicator of long-term success.
Sahni
K S
KS
Department of Surgery, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
Pieper
D R
DR
Anderson
R
R
Baldwin
N G
NG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*
D005990:Glycerol